Device for arranging a band of flexible material round at least one product

ABSTRACT

A device for arranging a band of flexible material, in particular paper or plastic, round at least one product. The device includes a feed mechanism for feeding band material from a supply roll, an assembly for forming a loop in an end portion of the band material round a space for receiving the product, an assembly for severing that end portion and a welding assembly for closing the loop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for arranging a band of flexiblematerial, in particular paper or plastic, round at least one product,comprising a feed mechanism for feeding band material from a roll, meansfor forming a loop in an end portion of the band material round a spacefor receiving the product, means for severing that end portion andwelding means for closing the loop. Such a device is also known underthe name of a banding machine.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The existing banding machines make use of the stiffness of the bandmaterial in the transport of the band round the space for receiving aproduct. This takes place by making a loop in the end portion of theband material with a rotatable gripper. A significant drawback to thesemachines is the limited size of the loop, and therefore also of thespace for receiving a product. This size depends on the flexibility ofthe band material; the space is more limited in the case of veryflexible band material than in the case of less flexible band material.

The invention has for its object a device for arranging a band offlexible material round at least one product, wherein the size of thespace for receiving a product surrounded by band material is notdependent on the stiffness of the band material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device for arranging a band of flexiblematerial in which the means for forming the loop consist of transportingmeans for the band material movable round the space and suction meansconnected to the transporting means. With this device, the size of theobject for enclosing with band material no longer depends on theflexibility of the material. This enables arrangement of a band roundlarger objects than has been possible up to the present time or moreproducts than has been possible up to the present time. In addition, theproposed device is more reliable in use than existing devices.

A preferred embodiment of the device includes transporting means whichcomprise at least one endless conveyor belt. This conveyor beltpreferably has openings, which openings are connected to a suction sideof a vacuum pump. Due to the pressure difference the band material willremain held against the conveyor belt whereby the band material can becarried round the product space by the endless conveyor belt.

The connection between the vacuum pump and the conveyor belt ispreferably formed by an underpressure channel engaging round theconveyor belt. With this step the suction action of a single vacuum pumpcan be utilized over the whole length of the conveyor belt.

The device is preferably further characterized in that the mutualdistance of the side walls of the underpressure channel is adjustable.This enables use of different band widths with a constant quality ofguiding.

The present invention will be further elucidated with reference to thenon-limitative embodiments shown in the following figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a partly cut away device according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a partly cut away detail of thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a part of the device of FIG. 1 with aproduct prior to arranging of a band; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic view corresponding with FIG. 3 during arranging ofthe band.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 with which band material 2 can be unrolled froma supply roll 3 for subsequent fastening round a product (not shown).For this purpose band material is pushed up via a guide 6 in thedirection of arrow P by feed and pulling rollers 5. The band material 2will then come into contact with a perforated endless conveyor belt 7.The conveyor belt 7 is driven by the motor 4 with interposing of a cord8. A vacuum pump 9 pumps air out of the device 1 enclosed by a casing10, whereby an underpressure occurs in a channel 13 engaging round theconveyor belt 7. The perforated conveyor belt 7 hereby draws in the bandmaterial 2. Conveyor belt 7 will carry along the band material 2 drawnagainst it in the transporting direction T. The outer end 12 of the bandmaterial 2 is subsequently clamped by a clamp 13 or by placing a producton the outer end 12. A space 14 surrounded by the band material islarger than a product placed therein. The feed and pulling rollers 5will now tighten the band material so far that the band material fitsround the product. Herein the band material 2 will thus come loose ofthe perforated conveyor belt 7. Finally, welding and cutting means 15will close the loop thus arranged round the product and sever it fromthe remaining band material 2. The product with the loop fastenedtherearound can now be removed and the device 1 is ready for thefollowing cycle.

FIG. 2 shows in detail a corner guide 16 for band material 2 of thedevice 1 of FIG. 1. The corner guide 16 is provided because a guideroller 17 of the perforated conveyor belt 7 makes it impossible for theband material 2 to lie at all points against the conveyor belt 7. Thecorner guide 16 comprises a holding element 18 connected to the channel11 and a guide plate 19 for fixing on the holding element 18. It will beapparent that corner guide 16 can also be replaced by an additionalconveyor belt. This has the advantage that very thin band material 2 canalso be processed with the device 1.

In the schematically depicted device 1 in FIG. 3 a product 20 is placedin the space 14 surrounded by band material 2. FIG. 4 shows a view ofthe schematic device 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 after the feed and pullingrollers 5 (not shown) have tightened the band material 2 round theproduct 20. The welding and cutting means 15 are moved to the product 20for closing and severing the loop.

I claim:
 1. A device for arranging a band of flexible material round atleast one product, comprising: a supply roll; a feed mechanism forfeeding band material from the supply roll; means for forming a loop inan end portion of the band material round a space for receiving theproduct; means for severing the end portion; and welding means forclosing the loop, wherein the means for forming the loop includestransporting means for the band material movable round the space andsuction means operative against the transporting means to 10 hold theband material as the band material moves round the space.
 2. A device asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the transporting means comprise at least oneendless conveyor belt.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein thesuction means includes a vacuum pump having a suction side and theconveyor belt has openings in flow 5 communication with the suction sideof the vacuum pump.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein aconnection between the vacuum pump and the conveyor belt is formed by anunderpressure channel formed round the conveyor belt.
 5. A device asclaimed in claim 4, wherein the underpressure channel includes sidewalls and the distance between the side walls of the underpressurechannel is adjustable.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein aconnection between the suction means and the conveyor belt is formed byan underpressure channel formed round the conveyor belt.